‘It’s shocking’: Sask. farmers react to federal government’s purposed cutdown on use of fertilizer

Local farmers have voiced their concerns with the federal governments plan to reduce the use of fertilizer by 30 per cent by the year 2030.

The Canadian federal government is moving forward with its plan to reduce fertilizer use in the country by 30 per cent by 2030.

It’s part of its overall emissions reduction plan.

Chair of the standing committee on Agriculture and Agri-foods and Liberal MP Kody Blais says this is essential work to meet their decreasing climate change emissions.

“We need to continue to drive innovation. We are going to be their work to work with you. This is not an us (government) versus you (farmers), we have a policy in place, this is where we are trying to go in the future,” said Blais. “The work done to this point by farmers is great, but we can do more.”

Many local farmers say this is not the time to reduce fertilizer use as Canada is already a world leader in low-emission farming techniques.

“If you take those nutrients away, we will grow less. That would be detrimental to our profit. What that means for Canadians is higher food prices, we do not need higher food prices,” said western Canadian wheat growers association director and farmer from the Mossbank, Sask. area Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel.

Jolly-Nagel says she is shocked that the government would add another hurdle to farmers on top of the carbon tax, putting farmers in a tight spot as it is.

“We have the highest quality crop techniques in the world in Canada. We need to continue that growth, not deplete our crop yield.”